Apparatus for packing containers with yarn



Dec. 8, 1942. E. e. KELLER I 2,304,260

APPARATUS FOR PACKING CONTAINERS WITH YARN Filed Nov. 17, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet l I ENTO rues ATTORNEY Dec 8, 1942. 2,304,260

APPARATUS FOR PACKING CONTAINERS WITH YARN E. G. KELLER -2 Sheets- Shet2 Filed Nov. 17, 1938 INVENTOR Ernest G.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 8, 1942 UNITE STATES APPARATUS FOR PACKINGCONTAINERS WITH YARN 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for packing the samewith yarn.

One of the objects of this invention is to utilize, as a substitute fora spool or reel, a container within which yarn or thread is packed andcompletely enclosed to enable a better, more-ready and facile feed Whilepreventing contamination thereof from outside sources, and avoidingdeterioration of the yarn or thread.

Another object of my invention is to utilize a yarn container comprisinga transparent capsule or cartridge composed of a shell of sheet materialsuch as Celluloid or a condensation product which will encase andsubstantially shield the yarn from access of air and which will preventdeterioration of yarns that embody strands of rubber or the like.

Still another object of my invention is to utilizeasubstantially-enclcsed capsule or cartridge having a relatively smallhead aperture to permit a direct filling movement of the yarn into thecapsule or cartridge from a large bobbin and to provide for an outwardfeeding movement of such yarn when it is desired to use the material, asfor example, in the shuttle of a sewing machine or the like;

Another object of my invention is to utilize a yarn or thread enclosingcapsule or cartridge having at one end a hole or holes therein to causepacking of the thread within the capsule or cartridge by a fluid agent,as for example by exhausting air from one end of the capsule orcartridge by the operation of the sucking action of suction means to thethread or yarn enclosed in the capsule or cartridge or by forcing airinto the capsule or cartridge through the opposite end during thefilling operation thereof.

Another object of my invention is to utilize a capsule or cartridgehaving a head portion .provided with a relatively smallstrand-receivingand-guicling aperture.

Another object of my invention isto provide apparatus for packing yarninto enclosing capsules of the type hereinabove referred to, which willenable a maximum amount or yardage of yarn to be filled into a capsule.

Another object of my inventicnis to pack yarn within an enclosingcontainer or capsule by applying suction to the bottom of the capsule tosuck theyarn to the bottom .of the capsule during a feeding movementthereof through the top of the capsule.

Still another object of my invention is to pack yarn within an enclosingcontainer .or capsule by applying'vibration to the bottom of thethepurpose of assisting in packing within the capsule yarn fed in at thehead portion thereof.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises thecombination of members and arrangement of parts so combined as to coactand co-operate with each other in the performance of the functions andthe accomplishment' of the results herein contemplated, and

comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred formillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a capsulefilling machine embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the upper right handside of the machine I shown in Fig. 1;

4 the arrows;

machine and the means for applying suction and vibrating the yarncontainer;

Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation, partially broken away, of themechanism shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view in longitudinal section of a yarn-enclosing capsuleremoved from the machine as illustrated in Figs. 1, 6 and '7;

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the capsule shown in Fi 8;

Fig. 19 is a top view of the capsule shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Referring now to these drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodimentof my invention, 5 indicates a capsule which, in accordance with myinvention, is filled withyarn or thread 6 and which, when so filled withyarn or thread, is useful for any purpose to which a spool or bobbin ofthread or yarn may be put and which is particularly useful as a feedingdevice for thread or yarn in the shuttles of sewing machines and othermachines in which it is desired to avoid 5 the sticking, jamming andtangling frequently encountered when yarn or thread is wound upon aspool or bobbin and then inserted in a shuttle. While the ease andfacility of feeding is an important advantage procured by the use of myyarn-filled capsules, it will be obvious also that the enclosure ofthread or yarn within a container of the type specified will retain thesame in a condition free from contamination by outside sources and willalso, when the thread con- 5 tains a strand of rubber or like material,prevent any deterioration of such rubber due to drying out from accessof air thereto.

My invention therefore, contemplates the provision, of a yarn-enclosingcapsule 5 and the filling of this capsule with yarn or thread 6 in sucha manner as to completely fill the capsule so as to contain a sufiicientyardage of thread or yarn to enable the same to be used as a substitutefor a spool, bobbin, or the like in the shuttle of a sewing machine orother machines in which shuttles are employed. In order to accomplishsuch filling and to utilize the space within the capsule to enclose amaximum yardage of material, I provide a filling machine having meansfor applying suction within the capsule to the yarn as it is filledthrough the top of the capsule to pack the same toward the bottomthereof and I also preferably provide, in combination with such suctionmeans, additional means for providing a continuous hammering orpercussion of the capsule against a table to cause the filled materialto be more tightly packed within the capsule by a downward movementinduced by such hammering or percussion.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown one form of machine embodyingthe necessary mechanism for filling and packing a capsule with yarn inorder to procure a maximum yardage within the same, and in suchdrawings, l indicates a base member on which is mounted upright framemembers 2, 2'. At the front of the frame member 2, I attach asupportingbracket 3 within which is slidably mounted a capsule-mountingsocket 4. Capsules 5 arerfg adapted to be successively mounted in thesocket 4 and, as illustrated, each of the capsules is provided, at itsupper end, with an aperture or head hole 5' through which a strand ofyarn 6 is fed in the capsule by any suitable yarn-feeding 5 mechanismand preferably by yarn-feeding mechanism hereinafter described whichwill measure the yardage of yarn fed to the capsule and which, when agiven yardage is supplied, will automatically stop the feed of the yarnto; ()0 the capsule.

In accordance with my invention, however, it is desirable to fill into acapsule of given dimensions, a maximum yardage of yarn and also to causethe laying within the capsule of the-{Z strands of yarn in such mannerthat the yarn may be readily and easily withdrawn from the capsulewithout tangling, sticking or jamming.

For the purpose hereinabove specified, I preferably provide a hollowcapsule composed of Celluloid or other suitable material and comprisinga body portion of substantially cylindrical conformation with a roundedhead or top portion and completely closed except for theaxially-disposed filling and feed aperture 5' hereinabove referred to.The capsule is mounted within the cylindrical socket 4, and has a bottomportion which, in mounted position, extends within the socket 4 and hasan air-tight connection therewith, and said bottom portion has one ormore and preferably a series of five suction apertures 5 to whichsuction is applied through the socket 4. In the preferred form of myinvention the head and body of the capsule are formed in one piece andthe bottom end is bent or turned around a flat disc having the suctionapertures 5 hereinabove specified.

A substantially-closed capsule so mounted is, in accordance with myinvention, completely filled with yarn and the yarn is packed therein insuch a manner as to enclose, in the space provided within the capsule, amaximum yardage. In the preferred embodiment of my invention, Iaccomplished this object by applying suction to the bottom apertures 5of the capsule through the socket 4 during the feeding operation of theyarn so as to continuously draw yarn being fed through the top thereofdown toward the bottom of the same and, at the same time, I preferablyprovide means for hammering the capsule 5 and socket 4 against the topof the bracket 3.

In the preferred form of my invention, the socket 4 is, at its lowerend, provided with a lateral bore 4' connected with a flexible suctiontube 1 leading to a suitable suction pump P shown in Fig. 1.

My preferred form of hammer or percussionpacking mchanism comprises themounting of the socket 4 on a rod 8 extending through a guide-bore 3 inthe supporting bracket 3 and having its end 8 contacting with theperipheral surface of a hammering or percussion cam 9 mounted on a shaftl0 supported in bearing brackets ll below the socket-supporting member3. The said rod 8 has mounted thereon, a spring l2 stretched between thebottom 3' of the supporting bracket 3 and a washer 8 on the rod 8 heldin place thereon by pin 8 Said spring is intended to force end 8' underthe rod 8 into continuous contact with the peripheral surface of the camand to force the bottom of the flange 4 downward to impinge against theupper surface 3 of the supporting bracket 3. Upon a rotation of the cam9, the rod 8 will be lifted to cause socket 4 to be raised above thesurface It until the radial surface 9' is reached when the rod willabruptly be forced to move toward the axis of the cam by the spring l2and during this movement the flange 4 will strike the upper surface 3 ofthe supporting bracket so as to provide a hammering or percussioneffect, which will cause any yarn within the capsule to be moved byinertia toward the lower end thereof and thus to provide a percussionpacking thereof within the capsule, it being understood that thispercussion packing will supplement the packing obtained through thesuction action hereinabove described.

When a given yardage is supplied to the capsule, further feeding of theyarn is discontinued to permit severing of the yarn and removal of thecontainer, and I therefore utilize, in combination with rotatable feedrollers l5, 16, between which the yarn is guided, means for applyingsuitable pressure to one of the feed rollers and, as illustrated,pressure is applied to the roller [6 to press it against the rotatingroller l5 and to cause a feeding movement of the yarn 6 through funnell7 and down into the container or capsule 5. As

shown, the feed roller I is mounted to rotate about a fixed shaft l5supported in suitable bearings integral with the frame and is rotatedthrough a pulley |5= connected by belt It with pulley l5 rotated bymotor l5 The feed roller l6, which applies pressure to the yarn ismounted on an axle l6 fixed in a tiltable frame It which is adapted,when a given yardage is supplied, to cause the lifting of the pressureroller 16 and thus to stop further feeding of the yarn. As illustrated,the roller 16 has connected thereto and rotates a gear l6 which mesheswith and rotates a gear [9 fast on a shaft 28 and which, in turn,rotates a worm 2| also on shaft 20. The worm 2i meshes with and rotatesa worm-wheel 22 and shaft 23 which rotates a trip-member 23 providedwith an adjustable pin 23 adapted, upon a complete turn of the member23' to engage a tilting lever 24 mounted on a pivot member 25 supportedin suitable bearings and adapted, upon tilting by the lever 24, to causea toe 25 to engage and tilt the table or plate 21 upwardly, the tiltingtoe 26 being normally held in its lowermost position out of contact withplate 21 by the weight 26'. The tilting of the plate releases aconnected detent 28 from the notch 29 in a slidable arm 29 which ismounted to slide transversely of the frame of the machine in cleats 2929. Upon release of the detent, the arm 29 is shifted rearwardly as ismore particularly shown in Fig. 5, by the action of the spring 30 whichis stretched between a fixed point on the machine and a pin 3!) on saidlever 29. Rearward movement of the arm 29 tilts the tiltable frame l8 toelevate the pressure roller I6 and stop further feeding of the yarn.This movement is accomplished through the connecting rod 3 I, pivoted atone end 3| to the said arm 29 and at its opposite end 3| to the top ofthe tiltable frame [8 which comprises a lever arm 32 fastened at 32' tothe tiltable bearing frame l8 in which the roller I6 is mounted. Thelever 32 is normally held in its forward position to retain the pressureroller H5 in proper pressing relationship by the spring 32 Thus, upon arevolution of measuring mechanism connected with the roller Hi, therearward movement of the sliding arm 29 will elevate said roller IE tocause further feeding of the yarn to be immediately discontinued.Obviously, by properly proportioning the gears and pressure-applyingroller any suitable yardage fed therethrough may be measured and thefeeding then stopped.

Upon such discontinuation of the feeding movement of the yarn, theoperator, in the embodiment illustrated, cuts the yarn between thefunnel and the head of the capsule 5; then removes the capsule from itssocket and replaces another one in said socket. During such removal ofthe capsule, it is desir able that the suction be shut-off and for thispurpose I provide means for cutting off the suction simultaneously withthe discontinuance of the feeding movement. As illustrated, one end 33of the connecting rod 33 is connected to the sliding lever 29 and theother end thereof is connected to a cut-off valve 34 which is normallyopen and is closed against the action of the spring 34' by movement ofthe arm 29 in a rearward direction upon release of the detent 28. Asillustrated, the valve is mounted on an extension arm 35 connected tothe bracket 3 and embodies a casing 34 having a slidable valve member 34provided with a valve opening 34 normally held in registry with theinlet and outlet portions 34, 34 which are connected intermediate theends of the hose 1 connected to a pump P. When the valve 34 is operatedto shut off connection between the pump P and capsule, another channelis preferably provided to permit the pump to continue its normaloperation during suchmut-off period, and for this purpose I provide aconduit member p having suitable means (not shown) adapted to openautomatically upon the closure of the valve 34.

After a new capsule is inserted in the socket 4, the end of the threadis inserted through the aperture in the head of the capsule and then thelever 29 is moved forwardly by the operator to cause the detent 28 tolook within its notch 29' whereupon the feed of the yarn will again bestarted. As illustrated, a hand lever 36, pivoted on the frame at 36',is connected intermediate its ends at 36 to the lever 29 and isprovided, at its end, with a handle 36* which may be grasped by theoperator to swing thelever forwardly in order to connect the detent andcause the start of the feeding movement of the yarn as above indicated.

I have found that it is not necessary to discontinue the hammeringmovement of the socket and capsule during removal and renewal of thecapsule. As shown, the shaft 1 0 for the hammering cam is rotatedthrough the sprocket l0, chain belt Ill and sprocket lo from the shaftl5 which is extended beyond its bearing for this purpose.

Suitable guides for the yarn are provided and, as shown, I have employedan eye-guide 31 and a V-guide 38 at the rear of the pressure roller. Ofcourse, conventional means (not shown) is provided to stop the machineentirely when desired.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for filling yarn into containers embodying, in combination,a frame member having a mounting base, a cartridge holder mounted insaid mounting base and reciprocable toward and away from said base, aflexible suction hose connected to said holder, guide means disposedco-axially with said cartridge holder, roller feed mechanism mountedadjacent to said guide means for guiding said yarn through said guidemeans and into said cartridge, said holder being slidably mounted insaid mounting base, and means for hammering said holder against saidmounting base to assist in packing the thread or yarn within saidcartridge.

2. Apparatus for filling yarn into containers embodying, in combination,a frame member having a mounting base, a cartridge holder mounted insaid mounting base and reciprocable toward and away from said base, aflexible suction hose connected to said holder, guide means disposedco-axially with said cartridge holder, roller feed mechanism mountedadjacent to said guide means for guiding said yarn through said guidemeans and into said cartridge, said holder being slidably mounted insaid mounting base, a

cam member having a cam surface adapted to raise said holder and aradial drop surface adapted to cause the same to be hammered againstsaid base and a spring for normally forcing said holder toward said baseagainst the raising action of said cam.

ERNEST G. KELLER.

